Europeans ready to dominate on the Open stage – Torrance

SAM TORRANCE has hailed European golf as the strongest it has ever been as the continent's leading players begin their bid for Open glory at St Andrews this morning.

The former Ryder Cup captain and European Tour stalwart believes the current crop of bright young things has the edge over the major-winning legends he played alongside in the 80s and 90s.

In a golden era for European golf, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Jose Maria Olazabal won 18 majors between them from 1979 to 1999.

Paul Lawrie's surprise victory at Carnoustie in 1999 marked the end of that dominance and despite the Tour producing major winners in the shape of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera, the continent had to wait eight years before Padraig Harrington's triumph at Carnoustie three Opens ago.

That proved to break down the barrier for the Irishman only as Harrington went on to defend the Claret Jug at Birkdale and win the US PGA before Graeme McDowell finally built on that platform with victory at last month's US Open.

Now, with five Europeans in the top 10 and another five completing the top 20 following Edoardo Molinari's win at Loch Lomond, Torrance believes the continent is better equipped than ever to produce an Open winner.

"We have got the strongest European challenge for a long, long time, and now have more strength in depth than at any time," said Torrance, who sparked Europe's near-domination of the Ryder Cup over the last decade with victory over USA at the Belfry in 2002.

"Fantastic players who are winning week-in, week-out, not only in Europe but also in America. It's a huge challenge with the likes of Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, to name but a few.

"I take the point that we had more major winners in the Faldo, Ballesteros, Lyle, Woosnam, Langer era.

"But we have major winners now and it will be interesting watching Graeme McDowell this week, now that the realisation that he is the US Open champion will have dawned.

"It will be difficult to come to terms with that and it's massive for him to take in. But, like his European colleagues, he knows St Andrews well and, hopefully, he'll do well."

Westwood leads the home challenge despite combating a calf injury. He has come so close to winning a major and his longevity at the top of the European game is illustrated by the fact that when he played under Torrance at the Belfry in 2002, he was making his third appearance in the Ryder Cup.

The job of European captain at Celtic Manor in Wales in October falls to Torrance's compatriot Colin Montgomerie, who is back in the Open this year after a stunning qualifying performance at Sunningdale last month.

Montgomerie was second at St Andrews five years ago, and while a strong performance this week would be welcome, it would create another headache for a pioneering captain who has already shortened the qualifying postions to nine to enable him to have three wild card picks.

He may regret not having afforded himself more with household names like Rose, Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Robert Karlsson and Ross Fisher out of the automatic positions.

Torrance, who is part of the BBC commentary team at

St Andrews this week, said: "I sat down with Colin for an interview earlier this week and went in with a list of his potential Ryder Cup players and a list of those who, at this point, would be missing out, and the one of players missing out was a stronger list.

"That just goes to show the situation he finds himself him in – and I envy him, I'd love to be making that decision in a few weeks' time.

"I can understand what he's going through and it's very enjoyable watching these players jockeying for position and creating so many decisions for Colin."

Like McDowell at Pebble Beach, one European could take the decision out of Montgomerie's hands by walking up that famous 18th fairway at

St Andrews on Sunday evening as Open champion.

"That would be great to see and I don't see any reason why not," said Torrance, 56, who won 21 times on the European Tour and already has 11 wins on the Seniors Tour.

However, despite the controversy surrounding Tiger Woods and his private life, Torrance believes the world No 1 is the main threat to the European challenge.

"We have got to remember Tiger's heaven is on the golf course, it's his sanctuary.

"He hasn't played well in the majors this year and yet has finished fourth both times."